Is it too early to call the third game in a 10-game qualifying scenario a, "must win"?
However you feel about that, the USMNT simply has to get its qualifying campaign back on course Wednesday night in Nashville against Trinidad & Tobago. (7:30 p.m., ESPN2)
If the U.S. bungles points here, it could lead to a trickier qualification route than planned. The next three matches are at Costa Rica, home to Honduras in Chicago and at the Azteca for Mexico Round 2. Those road venues are places the Americans rarely, if ever get results. Dropping two points to El Salvador on Saturday likely means the U.S. has to pick something up on the turf of the Saprissa in early June.
Still, if the U.S. -- even with its loss of points in El Salvador -- can't finish among the top three of this group (worst case scenario fourth) why do we even bother to follow the team?
Looking at the rest of the Hex, the other two Wednesday matches probably own bigger meaning that what happens at LP Field.
First, El Salvador is at Costa Rica. If El Salvador can get something there, it's at least alive. If Costa Rica takes the three points, it's basically well on its way to another World Cup berth.
Meanwhile, Honduras -- a team I thought would contend for the top three -- has one point from two matches hosts Mexico. Honduras needs something -- even a point -- to kick start its campaign.
So assuming the U.S., Costa Rica and Mexico all win on Wednesday, they'll be a four-point gap between third and fourth. Therefore, the potential crisis in the table for the U.S. isn't that much.
As for the game itself Wednesday?
Yes, the U.S. did lose to TnT in the last stage after they'd already qualified for the final round of qualification. The Soca Warriors do have some steady old heads in the lineup -- Dennis Lawrence, Russell Lapaty, Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke (suspended) -- but even with the Saturday stinkbomb in San Salvador, the U.S. has to be able to handle a team like this at home, right?
For me, the big question is if Bob Bradley will loosen the reigns a little bit.
Is a 4-5-1, with two holding type midfielders necessary against a team like Trinidad, which will likely play some variant of the same formation? Can't Michael Bradley handle the holding/disrupting role himself?
Doesn't this game just scream out for the addition of Freddy Adu, who's young legs ought to be fresh? He's probably the only American you can say has vision. Until the final, frantic 20 minutes the U.S. seemed to have no idea how to crack the El Salvadoran defense.
Wouldn't Wednesday seem like a day to experiment for 90 minutes with Brian Ching and Jozy Altidore together?
The U.S. doesn't have any more friendlies for the foreseeable future, so this is as good a chance as any to try something out. It's safe to say most CONCACAF teams have figured out how to play the U.S., hunker down and don't let the wing players get involved and then pounce on the counter attack.
Miscellany
* If he scores, with Kenwyne Jones celebrate with the snake dance? If anything, that's the biggest concern about Trinidad, since it does have quality forwards and the U.S. backline looked crocked on Saturday.
* Does Bradley have the guts to either sit Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey or DaMarcus Beasley in favor of Adu?
* Will we ever see Carlos Bocanegra get a shot at left back? Maybe that's too logical, considering the drop off from Bocanegra to Jay DeMerit or Danny Califf isn't that huge at center back.
* Is it possible, after their collective long times in the wilderness, that Jon Spector or Eddie Johnson might play a role?
* Was Onyewu that much of a force in the defense? Or did missing Tim Howard contribute to the disorganization.
* Will Trinidad, needing points, actually come out and play?
Lineup Guess
This is how I'd opt:
GK -- Howard
DEF -- Bocanegra -- Onyewu -- DeMerit -- Hedjuk
MID -- Dempsey -- Bradley -- Donovan -- Adu -- Beasley
FOR -- Ching
This is how Bob will probably go:
GK -- Howard
DEF -- ???? (Pearce by default) -- Bocanegra -- Onyewu -- Hedjuk
MID -- Dempsey -- Bradley -- Mastroeni -- Beasley
FOR -- Ching -- Donovan
Final thoughts:
Though if you're a fan of the Premier League, Trinidad has some bigger 'name' players than other CONCACAF nations, this might be the perfect opponent for the U.S. to get after the sour draw Saturday.
The big question is if Trinidad sits back and clogs up the middle, does the U.S. have the ideas and or gumption to crack through and get a result? My guess, U.S. 2, Trinidad 0
However you feel about that, the USMNT simply has to get its qualifying campaign back on course Wednesday night in Nashville against Trinidad & Tobago. (7:30 p.m., ESPN2)
If the U.S. bungles points here, it could lead to a trickier qualification route than planned. The next three matches are at Costa Rica, home to Honduras in Chicago and at the Azteca for Mexico Round 2. Those road venues are places the Americans rarely, if ever get results. Dropping two points to El Salvador on Saturday likely means the U.S. has to pick something up on the turf of the Saprissa in early June.
Still, if the U.S. -- even with its loss of points in El Salvador -- can't finish among the top three of this group (worst case scenario fourth) why do we even bother to follow the team?
Looking at the rest of the Hex, the other two Wednesday matches probably own bigger meaning that what happens at LP Field.
First, El Salvador is at Costa Rica. If El Salvador can get something there, it's at least alive. If Costa Rica takes the three points, it's basically well on its way to another World Cup berth.
Meanwhile, Honduras -- a team I thought would contend for the top three -- has one point from two matches hosts Mexico. Honduras needs something -- even a point -- to kick start its campaign.
So assuming the U.S., Costa Rica and Mexico all win on Wednesday, they'll be a four-point gap between third and fourth. Therefore, the potential crisis in the table for the U.S. isn't that much.
As for the game itself Wednesday?
Yes, the U.S. did lose to TnT in the last stage after they'd already qualified for the final round of qualification. The Soca Warriors do have some steady old heads in the lineup -- Dennis Lawrence, Russell Lapaty, Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke (suspended) -- but even with the Saturday stinkbomb in San Salvador, the U.S. has to be able to handle a team like this at home, right?
For me, the big question is if Bob Bradley will loosen the reigns a little bit.
Is a 4-5-1, with two holding type midfielders necessary against a team like Trinidad, which will likely play some variant of the same formation? Can't Michael Bradley handle the holding/disrupting role himself?
Doesn't this game just scream out for the addition of Freddy Adu, who's young legs ought to be fresh? He's probably the only American you can say has vision. Until the final, frantic 20 minutes the U.S. seemed to have no idea how to crack the El Salvadoran defense.
Wouldn't Wednesday seem like a day to experiment for 90 minutes with Brian Ching and Jozy Altidore together?
The U.S. doesn't have any more friendlies for the foreseeable future, so this is as good a chance as any to try something out. It's safe to say most CONCACAF teams have figured out how to play the U.S., hunker down and don't let the wing players get involved and then pounce on the counter attack.
Miscellany
* If he scores, with Kenwyne Jones celebrate with the snake dance? If anything, that's the biggest concern about Trinidad, since it does have quality forwards and the U.S. backline looked crocked on Saturday.
* Does Bradley have the guts to either sit Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey or DaMarcus Beasley in favor of Adu?
* Will we ever see Carlos Bocanegra get a shot at left back? Maybe that's too logical, considering the drop off from Bocanegra to Jay DeMerit or Danny Califf isn't that huge at center back.
* Is it possible, after their collective long times in the wilderness, that Jon Spector or Eddie Johnson might play a role?
* Was Onyewu that much of a force in the defense? Or did missing Tim Howard contribute to the disorganization.
* Will Trinidad, needing points, actually come out and play?
Lineup Guess
This is how I'd opt:
GK -- Howard
DEF -- Bocanegra -- Onyewu -- DeMerit -- Hedjuk
MID -- Dempsey -- Bradley -- Donovan -- Adu -- Beasley
FOR -- Ching
This is how Bob will probably go:
GK -- Howard
DEF -- ???? (Pearce by default) -- Bocanegra -- Onyewu -- Hedjuk
MID -- Dempsey -- Bradley -- Mastroeni -- Beasley
FOR -- Ching -- Donovan
Final thoughts:
Though if you're a fan of the Premier League, Trinidad has some bigger 'name' players than other CONCACAF nations, this might be the perfect opponent for the U.S. to get after the sour draw Saturday.
The big question is if Trinidad sits back and clogs up the middle, does the U.S. have the ideas and or gumption to crack through and get a result? My guess, U.S. 2, Trinidad 0
Labels: bob bradley, concacaf, Soccer, USMNT, world cup qualifying
My line up for tommorrow
Howard
Frankie Onyewu Carlos Spector
Torres Bradley
Donovan Dempsey Beasley
Ching
Reasons- The left back is wide open after Pierce's performance and its Spector's turn. Averaging 40 mins per game over his last 5 in the EPL ( top 10 team) means you start on the USMNT.
Donovan was non-existent Sat. night and getting him involved in the play should be easier on the right where he can't hide from the ball as much.
Torres-Why bother with Pablo? T and T isnt an offensive threat and its not on the dreaded road use a center mid who can pass and has great touch. You need goals at home.
Altidore should get at least 30 mins, depending on the score; he should come in as a second foward or fresh legs to replace Ching if things are going well.
Jozy! Jozy! Jozy!